Koda scam: HC sets aside IT official's transfer; govt to appeal

The Jharkhand High Court on Tuesday set aside the transfer of an income tax officer probing the alleged multi-crore illegal investment case against former chief minister Madhu Koda and ordered status quo, but the Central Government is likely to challenge the verdict.

The Jharkhand High Court on Tuesday set aside the transfer of an income tax officer probing the alleged multi-crore illegal investment case against former chief minister Madhu Koda and ordered status quo, but the Central Government is likely to challenge the verdict.

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A bench of Chief Justice Gyan Sudha Mishra and Justice R R Prasad, while hearing a PIL directed the income tax department to maintain status quo till three weeks, on the transfer order of Director (Investigations) Ujjwal Choudhary.

Shortly after the court order, Choudhary told PTI, "I will continue to work to the best of my ability." But, a top department source said, "We may challenge the order in the apex court".

"As a matter of fact, transferring the Director of Investigation for Commissioner of Income Tax (Central) is a strategical move with the object of direct supervision of post search investigation... The assessment orders are framed (with Commissioner Central) to determine the taxable income of the assessee," the I-T department said in its plea.

"It is a routine transfer and done in the interest of the department," it said.

The I-T department also said the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by activist Durga Oraon in the High Court requesting to stay Choudhary's transfer "should not be broadened to the extent that it enters into the shoe of the department".